"The unprecedented summit between the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, ended in a whimper [on Tuesday], with both sides expressing disappointment at the outcome of the meeting, for obvious reasons.

"Mr Sharon's offer to hand over two more towns ... within two weeks if Mr Abbas demonstrated efforts to control militant violence was a real challenge for the Palestinian leader who has to deal with diverse groups of militant organisations. Many of the militants believe that without armed resistance, Israel will not budge an inch. It will be really difficult for any Palestinian leader to force the militants to lay down arms and keep a total ceasefire as long as Israel occupies Palestinian land."

Haaretz Editorial, Israel, June 23

"It is doubtful Mr Abbas will be capable of providing Israel with security, or even a promise of security, in the foreseeable future; and it is doubtful that Mr Sharon is capable of promising the Palestinians a continuation of the diplomatic process after the withdrawal from Gaza. His political situation does not enable him to make promises.

"The hope is that the very fact of the withdrawal from Gaza will improve the atmosphere between the parties and set in motion the dynamic of the diplomatic process, and that a withdrawal successfully coordinated with the Palestinian Authority (PA) will open the door to a more optimistic next step ... Willingness to begin work on the new Gaza port and reopening the Palestinian airport are examples of practical gestures that would help to strengthen the PA without harming Israel."

Daily Star Editorial, Lebanon June 23

"Mr Abbas, for all his faults, wants to take the gun out of Middle East politics. But ultimately he has no control - where Yasser Arafat had some perhaps - over the armed groups who do not believe he can deliver anything tangible through negotiation.

"To these groups, targeted assassinations merely reinforce the view that the Israeli government is not interested in a peaceful conclusion to this conflict that enshrines the two-nation solution. And the failure to offer up any significant concessions to Mr Abbas during [Tuesday's] bitter summit underlines the utter impotency of talks. Consequently, Israel by its actions this week has offered strong encouragement to those who believe the gun offers the only way forward to establishing a Palestinian state."

Daily Telegraph Editorial, June 22

"Arafat connived with terrorism and was ultimately rejected as a serious negotiating partner. Mr Abbas may want to stop it ... but is too weak to do so ... His weakness means that Israel will not remove checkpoints in the occupied territories, will keep its options open on ceding full control of land, sea and air crossings into Gaza once the settlements have been razed, and will, if necessary, re-enter towns in the West Bank officially handed over to the PA ...

"The prospect is of disengagement from Gaza and four of the West Bank settlements, followed by an Israeli refusal, as it approaches the next general election, to make further concessions. And that in turn could provoke a third intifada."

Jordan Times Editorial, June 23

"The just-ended summit had a multitude of items scheduled for discussion ... Instead of targeting so many complex issues that divide the two sides, it would have been much better, and more productive, for the negotiating process if the two parties focused on one or two major issues ... Otherwise the two sides will continue to engage in fruitless negotiations.

"The Israelis have made clear what is most important for them. Now it is up to the Palestinian side to identify its main demands. This way there may be an opportunity to move forward."